Springbrook became the first 4A team in 41 years to repeat as state champions.
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By James A. McCray III
Prince George's County, Content Manager

Many notable events happened across the nation in the year 1968. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his well-known Mountaintop speech, Hank Aaron hit his 500th home run, and the first humans ever to orbit the Moon happened in December of the same year.

However, more close to home, Northwestern High School won its second consecutive Class AA Maryland state championship --the AA class was changed to the 4A in 1989.

Although little known across the nation, that would be the last time a Maryland state school would win back-to-back state titles in the 4A.

It took 32 minutes at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center to erase a fact that stood for 41 years as the Springbrook Blue Devils defeated the Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr., Pumas 73-61 Saturday in the Maryland 4A state title game, its second consecutive state title.

Springbrook head coach Thomas Crowell remembered the year jokingly stating, "I was around for that. I was 16 at that time."

"It is about these five great seniors that we have," Crowell went on to say of his team. " ... These kids were a lot more confident than I was at times. They always kept saying they could get it done. ... They did get it done, and they played as a true team."

History seemed to be the common word amongst the Springbrook players after the game was completed, and Springbrook senior Jamal Olasewere didn't miss his opportunity to take note of the historic night.

"It's a blessing," Olasewere said. " ... Forty-one years and we did it, 27 and 0 this year, undefeated."

Olasewere finished with game-highs in points, 21, and rebounds, 15, his second double-double of the state tournament after finishing with 28 and 14, respectively, in the semifinal win against Walbrook.

"We did it, and that's all that I can say is we did it," Olasewere said. "They said we couldn't and we did. ... I love this team, I love these coaches."

Wise led after one quarter of play, 12-7, on the strength of 8 first-quarter points from point guard Phil Wood.

However, early foul trouble to Wise low-post presence Delonta Boyd caused the Pumas and head coach O.J. Johnson to change the thinking on the offensive side of the ball.

"We are a pretty small team, especially once Delonta comes out," Johnson said, "so, it definitely did hurt us. I think out bench players came in and ... all did a great job. Unfortunately, I don't think Delonta was ever able to get into a rhythm."

Yet in still, the 2008-09 version of the Pumas delivered the program its first-ever regional title.

"I am very proud of these young men," Johnson said. "[The seniors] ended their Wise careers on very good notes, and I told them there is nothing to be down about. ... I am very proud of them. They have set up a goal for all of our younger kids to reach at Wise."

Senior David Golladay led Wise with a team-high 21 points in the loss.

"I have been here since the beginning," Golladay said. "It feels good to know that I am going to leave after we built a good basketball program here."

E-mail: James A. McCray III

Springbrook 73, Henry Wise 61
Henry Wise  --   12  12   14   23; Golladay 20, Wood 13, Boyd 11, Barfield 10, Thomas 2, Makell 2, Mitchell 2, Till 1

Springbrook  --   7   20   14   32; Olasewere 21, Williams 17, Davis 12, Coker 8, Hearst 6, Carter 6, Walker 2, Pestano 1